35% minimum shareholding norm for listed firms may be put on hold: Report

The government is also looking for ways to ease concerns of foreign portfolio investors.

The government is likely to put on hold a plan to raise the minimum public shareholding in listed companies, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said, amid concerns it could force the issuance of billions of dollars worth of shares.

Stock markets fell sharply when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the proposal to raise the minimum public shareholding in companies to 35 per cent from 25 per cent in a budget speech last month.

"We may not notify this year the 35 per cent minimum shareholding norm as we have got some representation on the issue and we will look